FWB golf course taking steps to battle nematode infestation

Published: Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 05:39 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — Patrons of the city golf club will notice some big changes starting Tuesday.

That’s the day groundskeepers will launch their latest assault in the battle against the nematodes infesting both The Pines and The Oaks courses.

While The Oaks stays open, the front nine holes of The Pines will close down for about two weeks while crews put out new sod on the putting greens.

“We’re replacing, for sure, the greens on the 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th holes and then a partial green on the 8th,” said David Trimm, general manager at the club.

The parasitic pests, which feed on the roots of the grass, are the main reason for the dry and thinning greens plaguing the club in recent years.

The greens, Trimm said, are particularly important to golfers.

“That’s the last place on every hole,” he said. “You can make up shots there that you might have missed along the way.”

In addition to the sod, the golf club has stopped planting rye grass during the off-season because it has been shown to increase nematode populations.

“What we’ve been doing is just feeding them all winter,” Trimm said.

Other steps in-clude conducting major nematode treatments next spring and summer in May and June.

The club will design some temporary greens during the work to let the sod grow in before cold weather hits.

From mid-September to the first or sec-ond week in October, 17 holes on The Pines will be open, Trimm said.

Club members are hopeful about the work.

David Falldine, who plays there about three times each week, said improving the greens could bring some customers back to the club.

“I think it’s great that the city is willing to put money into the greens,” he wrote in an email to the Daily News. “The city course is the only affordable course around. Everything about the course is great... But the greens need some serious work.”

Jim Appleton of Shalimar has golfed at the club since 1979 and can’t wait to see the improvements take shape.

“We’re just all glad to see them do something proactive,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a long-term solution. It’s not something that’s going to change overnight.”

FORT WALTON BEACH — Patrons of the city golf club will notice some big changes starting Tuesday.

That’s the day groundskeepers will launch their latest assault in the battle against the nematodes infesting both The Pines and The Oaks courses.

While The Oaks stays open, the front nine holes of The Pines will close down for about two weeks while crews put out new sod on the putting greens.

“We’re replacing, for sure, the greens on the 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th holes and then a partial green on the 8th,” said David Trimm, general manager at the club.

The parasitic pests, which feed on the roots of the grass, are the main reason for the dry and thinning greens plaguing the club in recent years.

The greens, Trimm said, are particularly important to golfers.

“That’s the last place on every hole,” he said. “You can make up shots there that you might have missed along the way.”

In addition to the sod, the golf club has stopped planting rye grass during the off-season because it has been shown to increase nematode populations.

“What we’ve been doing is just feeding them all winter,” Trimm said.

Other steps in-clude conducting major nematode treatments next spring and summer in May and June.

The club will design some temporary greens during the work to let the sod grow in before cold weather hits.

From mid-September to the first or sec-ond week in October, 17 holes on The Pines will be open, Trimm said.

Club members are hopeful about the work.

David Falldine, who plays there about three times each week, said improving the greens could bring some customers back to the club.

“I think it’s great that the city is willing to put money into the greens,” he wrote in an email to the Daily News. “The city course is the only affordable course around. Everything about the course is great... But the greens need some serious work.”

Jim Appleton of Shalimar has golfed at the club since 1979 and can’t wait to see the improvements take shape.

“We’re just all glad to see them do something proactive,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a long-term solution. It’s not something that’s going to change overnight.”